Fence-post.



P. J. HINDMARSH.

FENCE POST.

APPLICATION FILED.MAK.18, I914.

Patented Feb. 1, 1916.

UNITED STATES PAT-E r ()FFICE.

PERCY J. HINDMARSH, F LINCOLN, NEBRASKA, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN STEEL & WIRE COMPANY OF NEW JERSEY, OF HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY, A COIL PORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

FENCE-POST.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 1, 1916.

Application filed March 18, 1914. Serial No. 825,507.

. T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PERCY J. HINDMARSH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lincoln, in the county of Lancaster and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fence- Posts, and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specifica tion, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to means for anchoring and bracing fence posts, and more particularly to metal fence posts, and the object of my invention is to provide anchoring and bracing means which shall be of simple construction, easily and quickly applied, and yet, which Wlll most efiiciently perform their intended function.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fence post anchor and brace in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a single fluke anchor embodying my invention.

The post 10, which I show in the drawings to illustrate an embodiment of my invention, is of a well known construction, it being of sheet metal bent into a V-shape in cross section with its lower end pointed so that itmay readily penetrate the earth. Fitting over the post at the ground lever is an eye or collar 11 of triangular shape, preferably made of cast iron, which constitutes the means for attaching the anchor to the post and the bracing thereto, at one point. Theanchor may have two flukes, as illustrated in Fig. l, or butonefiuke, (Fig. 2) and in either case it comprises a horizontally extending ground-engaging arm 12 rigidly attached to the eye,.being preferably integral therewith, and which at its outer end has a downwardly extending arm 13, which inclines from the vertical, its lower end being pointed so that it may be readily driyen into the ground and the angle formed by the two arms having a stiffening, or strengthening web 14. The inclination of the vertical arm is in a direction which will oppose any lifting or horizontal rocking tendency of the post, and if two flukes are used, one at the outside of the post and the other at the inside the inclination of the outer fluke is downward and inward, while the inclination of the inner fluke is downward and outward with reference to the post, and if but a single fluke is used it has the corresponding inclination according to its location (.H the outside of the fence, or on the inside.

In assembling, or constructing the fence, the anchor is first driven into the ground until its horizontal arms are at the ground level and then the fence post 10 is inserted through the ground-engaging eye, or collar 11 and driven into the ground to the desired depth; afterward a key, or block 15, trlangular in cross section, is driven into the post so as to be within the plane of the collar and thereby the walls of the post are supported, or braced against crushing or collapsing under the strains which may be localized at the point where the anchor acts on the post. The collar 11 has an inward projection 16 that partly enters the post and whose face forms one of the bearings for the filling block, or key, and when two fiukes are used the horizontal arm of one is on the side of the collar having said projection and 'the horizontal arm of the other is diametrically opposite, or at the opposite apex of the triangular collar.

The collar has at the inner side of the post two eyes 17, each of which is engaged by the hooked end of a brace rod 18, which extends horizontally along, or close to the ground, parallel with one of the lines of fencing and at its outer-end it rests upon a bearing rock, or stone 19, and at such point engages the lower end of a tubular brace bar 20 that extends at an incline upward and at its upper end has a thrust bearing against the side of a collar 21 slipped over the post and which is triangular in shape to conform to the fit upon the post.

The pull of the fence upon the post is in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1 and it will be seen that the anchor with the straight inclined fluke, the inclination being downward and in the direction in which the pull exists, will rigidly oppose any direct vertical movement of the post and also any sidewise tendency. The integrality of the anchor and the eye not only results in a simple structure that can be easily handled and without any likelihood of parts becoming lost or displaced, but it gives to the structure solidity and strength.

Under the thrust of the upper end of the rock at a point in the plane of the horizontal ground-engaging arm of the anchor-so that that is the point of greatest strain and where the post under unusual strain bends.

collar adapted to accommodate a post of similar shape, a horizontally extending ground-engaging arm integral with said collar, and a downwardly and inwardly inclined arm whose inclination is in the direction in which the post tends to move under the pull of the fence, a filling block or key adapted to lie within the post and engage the sides thereof and a projection on saidcollar, a brace comprising a horizontal member that engages at one end an eye on the collar, and an inclined member that at its lower end engages said horizontal member and at its upper end has a bearing for the p :2. In a device of the class described, the

combination of an anchor having a horizontal ground-engaging arm and a downwardlyextending fluke, means connecting the horizontal arm and a post, a brace including a member that is adapted to engage the post and extend therefrom at an incline downward to the ground, and a vertical arm connected with the anchor and adapted to engage the post on its side opposite that Where the brace engages it. v

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of an anchor having a collar adapted to accommodate a post, a horizontal arm integral with the collar, and a downwardly and laterally inclined arm, the inclination being in the direction in which the post tends to move under the pull of the fence, a brace including a member that engages the post and extends therefrom downwardly and outwardly to the ground, and a vertical arm integral with the anchor collar that is adapted to engage and support the post on the side opposite that engaged by the brace.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PERCY J. HINDMARSH.

Witnesses F. N. EDWARDS, HARVEY ENGLAND. 

